www.NorCalHomeLocator.com

You’ll always hear that ”location, location, location” is a main priority when talking to a Realtor about buying real estate. What priority should you hear coming from a “listing agent” regarding  real estate? In my opinion it should be “Disclose, Disclose, Disclose.” Now this may scare some of you potential sellers…but think about it carefully. Always put yourself on the other side of the transaction. If you’re a buyer and someone has told you everything about a property (ie…the modifications, home improvements, repairs, and even the little quirks), you’re more likely to be fully satisfied with your purchase  and not want to sue someone if you knew about it ahead of time. I’ve found that buyers don’t usually walk away from too much disclosure. It’s usually the other way around. Many buyers are nervous receiving disclosures from sellers with little to nothing on the paperwork. I mean seriously…can you really live in a house for even as little as 5 years and not have something you’ve fixed, improved or had to giggle a certain way? Come on sellers!!! Disclose, disclose, disclose. This makes common sense and will keep you out of the courtroom. Not to mention…it’s just the right thing to do!

We just spent our 3rd night at the Folsom Thurs Night Market and it was a blast! Stop by the next  Market on July 8th and visit our booth. Team Shanahan and Platinum Mortgage Network President, Dave Trillo  http://www.platinummortgagenetwork.com/ will be there then and every week till it ends on July 29th  to help with your real estate and mortgage questions.

Vendors of all kinds, dancers, muscians, games, kareoke,  food stations & more are present  from 6-9pm.  There are 4 more fun-filled nights coming up, so check it out! http://www.folsomtnm.com/

Good news for home buyers! Governor Schwarzenegger signs $10,000 homebuyer tax credit legislation making a move to encourage Californian first time homebuyers and new construction purchasers to buy homes. I urge anyone looking at property ownership to call their tax accountant to understand how this bill will affect them. Read more http://gov.ca.gov/press-release/14712/

“Howdy” goes out to all the nice people and business owners we met at the Folsom Chamber of Commerce “Folsom Connection 2010″ event yesterday. Plus BIG THANKS goes to the organizers for such a superb job! It was a pleasure seeing such great turnout in support of keeping business strong in Folsom. Reatly World Team Shanahan raffled off a Flip Mino HD Video Camera. The WINNER was Phillip Kwong! Congratulations Phillip… have fun shooting, recording, & connecting w/ the FlipShare software experience. 

As of March 31^st the Federal Reserve will stop buying mortgages from Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. Why should you care? It means that banks will have to raise interest rates on the mortgages they originate in order to attract private investors, rather than a guaranteed buyer. Get all the info here: http://www.philly.com/philly/business/personal_finance/20100317_Program_s_end_to_affect_interest_rates.html

Extended until Dec 31, 2010, first time home buyers who lose their jobs due to layoffs may be eligible to receive up to $1500 a month for up to 6 mos to help pay their mortgage.  A qualified co-buyer can also participate in C.A.R.’s (Calif Assoc of Realtors) Housing Affordability Fund Mortgage Protection Program & receive $750 a month for up to 6mos. This free protection program received $1 million from C.A.R.’s & an additional $420,000 from N.A.R.’s (National Assoc) housing affordability funds & are available until the funds run out. Contact your Realtor for an application.

I’m always up for passing on great tips for new business I hear about. So I checked out SKIN 360 http://www.skin360medicalaesthetics.com/index.html, a new medical aesthetics clinic at 2575 East Bidwell Street, suite 210 in Folsom. The state of the art office featured everything I could possibly want for improving my skin from head to toe. From the clean, crisp new office to the warm, professional staff–I felt completely at ease & in good hands w/Nurse Practioner Jessica Finsley. She performed a precision laser treatment for me. I couldn’t be more happy with the results thus far. Go check them out for yourself & don’t forget to mention my recommendation for a 10% discount. Be sure to let me know how it goes!

According to author Mark Di Vincenzo of Buy Ketchup in May and Fly at Noon, there are “best times” to move your household in order to save $$$. Feel free to pack on a weekend, but don’t move the family possessions and little Fido until the weekdays. Moving services & suppliers offer bigger discounts for Mon-Thurs gigs.

In addition, he recommends mid-month dates for your relocation because apartment leases affect supply & demand allowing moving companies & suppliers to obtain premium rates near the 1st & end of the month. So monopolize on timing & skip out during the lull.

The big no brainer in his book  is that summer is NOT the best time of the year to move if you’re looking to save money. I think everyone would agree on that point. Approximately 60% of relocations take place during May-Sept, so I’d like to add to his money saving tips by actually giving you a plan…

Buyers should consider savings on moving by purchasing a home as early birds in January to beat the springtime competition. Serious buyers should figure their taxes immediately & try to coinside tax returns for a purchase asap in the new year. They’ll save on the price as well as the physical moving costs by being so pro-active!

Sellers should list their home on the market as soon as possible after the holidays for similar reasons. Beating the competition of other sellers at the springtime rush will help you close escrow sooner & avoid the extra $ involved with moving in the May-Sept premium months. 

There’s no time like the present…to save money!

A FRIEND JUST GAVE ME THE GREATEST BIRTHDAY GIFT EVER! SHE DONATED $$ IN MY NAME  TO ”SHELTER BOX” FOR EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS IN HAITI.  It made me realize that even though economic times are tough, we all have an obligation to help those far worse off.  It only takes a minute and 1 small gesture to make a big impact. Check out how YOU can help!!!

American Red Cross

The American Red Cross’ primary focus during the initial response of an emergency is feeding, sheltering and supplying any other basic needs. To donate: Go to RedCross.org, hit donate now button at top and then International Response Fund. You also can text “Haiti” to 90999 to donate $10 to the International Response Fund. The money will go directly to relief efforts in Haiti. Or call 1-800-Red-Cross.

AmeriCares

This nonprofit disaster relief organization delivers medicine, medical supplies and aid to people in crisis around the world. To donate, call 1-800-486-HELP or go to AmeriCares.org. Donations will go toward medicine and medical supplies and for expenses for providing that medical aid.

Care

This humanitarian organization’s main focus is to fight global poverty, specifically by empowering marginalized women and girls. To donate to the Haiti relief fund effort, go to Care.org or call 1-800-521-CARE. Money will go toward food, water and sanitation, shelter and emergency health response.

Direct Relief International

Direct Relief provides medical attention to those in need on an ongoing basis and in emergencies. Monetary donations go toward medical aid, supplies and equipment in Haiti. To donate, go to directrelief.org or call 805-964-4767 and 800-676-1638, or go through Google Checkout.

Medecins sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders)

The humanitarian organization delivers medical care to people caught in crisis. Donations to its Haiti relief efforts will go toward repairing the obstetrics and trauma hospitals in Haiti that were damaged in the earthquake. They also will go to transporting an additional 70 doctors and medical supplies to the island in an effort to set up makeshift emergency medical response centers. To donate, go to doctorswithoutborders.org or call 1-888-392-0392.

International Medical Corps

This emergency response agency focuses on health in emergency situations. Monetary donations go toward purchasing medical supplies, medicine and emergency kits and transporting these supplies. 1-800-481-4462 or go to imcworldwide.org

Medical Teams International

The Christian global health organization sends volunteer medical teams and supplies to those in the midst of disaster or poverty. Monetary donations will go to supporting the medical teams being sent to Haiti and to the cost of shipping the medical supplies donated by corporations. Donate by going to medicalteams.org and clicking on the “Donate Now” button, or call 1-800-959-HEAL (4325) or send a check to Medical Teams International, P.O. Box 10, Portland, OR 97207.

Mercy Corps

The organization provides humanitarian assistance and economic opportunities in the world’s toughest places, specifically those dealing with poverty, conflict and instability. To donate, go to MercyCorps.org. Money will go toward immediate humanitarian needs in Haiti, which may include, food, water and temporary shelter.

Operation USA

The international relief agency provides funding for reconstruction and development aid to communities that have experienced disasters, disease and poverty. For its Haiti relief efforts, the agency plans to use donations for health care materials, water purification supplies and food supplements. To donate, go to opusa.org or call 1-800-678-7255, or mail a check to Operation USA, 3617 Hayden Ave., Suite A, Culver City, CA 90232.

Save the Children

The independent organization focuses on children in need in the U.S. and globally through programs for health and nutrition, child protection and education. To donate, go to savethechildren.org, or call 1-800-728-3843 or 203-221-4030. Donations will go toward purchasing relief items, such as hygiene kits, family kits (pots, pans, food preparation items) and tarps.

The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army’s mission is to provide food, shelter, clothing and spiritual comfort during disasters. To donate money, go to salvationarmyusa.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY. Make sure you designate the donation for “Haiti Earthquake.” Money will go to the Salvation Army in Haiti, which will determine the country’s immediate needs, including water, food, medicine and transportation.

Shelterbox

The nonprofit delivers boxes of supplies to families of up to 10 people. The boxes contain a tent and essential equipment to use while individuals are displaced or homeless. To donate, call 941-907-6036 or go to shelterbox.org.

U.S. Fund for UNICEF

The national committee for UNICEF is responsible for the organization’s fundraising. UNICEF uses the money for health care, clean water, nutrition, education and emergency relief. To donate, go to Unicefusa.org or 1-800-4-UNICEF.

World Food Programme

The food assistance agency’s main focus is to fight hunger worldwide. The organization is working to bring food to Haiti. To donate, go to wfp.org.

Yele Haiti

This organization, founded by Wyclef Jean, creates projects to improve the quality of education, health, environment and community development in Haiti. To donate to to its Haiti relief efforts, go to yele.org or text YELE to 501501 to donate $5.

Other organizations seeking donations

• Catholic Relief Services

• International Relief Teams

• Operation Blessing International

• World Concern

The ZIPLOC OMELET

This is a fun idea to get to know your new neighbors…or try anytime friends or family come to visit. The best part is that no one has to wait for their special omelet !!!

Have guests write their name on a quart-size Ziploc freezer bag with permanent marker.

Crack 2 eggs (large or extra-large) into the bag (not more than 2) shake to combine them.

Put out a variety of ingredients such as: cheeses, ham, onion, green pepper, tomato, hash browns, salsa, etc.

Each guest adds prepared ingredients of choice to their bag and shake. Make sure to get the air out of the bag and zip it up.

Place the bags into rolling, boiling water for exactly 13 minutes [we did 15 minutes]. You can usually cook 6-8 omelets in a large pot. For more, make another pot of boiling water.

Open the bags and the omelet will roll out easily. Be prepared for everyone to be amazed. Note: you can even prepare egg mixtures the night before if desired.

Nice to serve with fresh fruit and coffee cake; everyone gets involved in the process. Great ice-breaker for unfamiliar groups…